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S Korea & China Mandate Common Chargers, Data Cables

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the dear-god-please-yes dept.

mrbill writes "Seems that South Korea and China have mandated Common Cell Phone chargers and data cables. No proprietary chargers and data cables any more. Must use USB for charging etc. "

12 of 362 comments (clear)

  1. Yea by failedlogic · · Score: 2, Informative

    I looked into getting a Data cable from my cell phone provider for a two-year old phone. They want $50! (I know eBay, etc). It goes to show that the proprietary cables cost a hell of a lot more money for nothing.

    And I'll bet with these standard cables, Monster Cable will develop a super-editition with gold-plated connectors, etc, etc! Only $100! LOL.

  2. Motorola is already doing it by wannabgeek · · Score: 2, Informative

    At least most of the new phones of Motorola the A-series, the RAZR, SLVR and PEBL etc all come with USB ports for charging as well as data-transfer.

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    1. Re:Motorola is already doing it by clonmult · · Score: 2, Informative

      Should also add that Motorola have been shipping USB to their proprietary adapters for quite a few years - I got one with my HS820 headset, and can charge it from my PC.

  3. Re:FINALLY by croddy · · Score: 2, Informative

    There are two different sizes, by the way. The larger one is for diesel.

  4. Re:amperage by networkBoy · · Score: 5, Informative

    you're both right.
    The spec calls for 500mA but most vendors connect the port to an *unfused* 5V line. This (IMHO) is a BadIdea (tm). sure you can draw 2A, you can try to draw 100A too but something's gonna give.
    Case in point: http://xbx.networkboy.net/modules/gallery/albums/a lbum18/P1000121.jpg
    It's a design flaw (in most cases) that you can draw that much current from a USB port.
    -nB

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  5. Re:Summary is wrong and so are you by bananaendian · · Score: 3, Informative
    makes absolutely no sense, as not every mobile phone user has a computer (or one with a USB port).

    You are so wrong.

    You do not need a laptop to 'USB-charge'

    You can pick up a USB Mains Charger for as little as 5 USD.

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  6. Re:Way to go! by R.D.Olivaw · · Score: 2, Informative
    Yeah, that really pissed me off when I bought a 6280! Apparently some new phones come with a convertor but my 6280 didn't and now I have 5 obsolete chargers lying around.
    I had the same problem. There is a solution. It does cost more money though and I wish that they hadn't changed it.
    It would be nice if all chargers become interchangeable though. I think that will lead to phones coming without chargers as you can either use you older ones or buy them seperately.
  7. Because they don't care enough to pay by Colin+Smith · · Score: 1, Informative

    Ah, everybody should be equal the world should be fair.

    I get a charger for free with my phone. I don't get gas for free with my car. If people really really cared that they had the same charger for everything they would have insisted on it years ago. They don't care so it's a non issue. Given that it's a non issue why should I pay the extra cost for the design of phones which have to use USB?

    You want it? You put it on the list of criteria of features for your next phone and you pay for it.

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  8. Re:Way to go! by Gubbe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Yeah, except that they actually include an adapter in the frickin' box so that you can still use your old chargers with the new thinner socket.

    Considering how large the old connector is, what else could they have done to decrease its footprint in newer, slimmer phones?

  9. Re:Two stupid laws? One week? It can't be true! by Steve+B · · Score: 2, Informative

    Great, where exactly am I supposed to plug in my USB-powered powered USB hub so that I can recharge my USB-powered phone?

    You can get a USB power adapter that plugs directly into the wall and provides power to a USB port, or a portable unit that powers a USB port from 4 AA batteries (one version called the "JAVOBooster" has a built-in flashlight as a bonus). Both are likely to be cheaper than the outrageously marked-up proprietary power bricks (even before taking into account the fact that you need one total, not one for each device).

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  10. Re:Motorola is already doing it - ALMOST by dlim · · Score: 3, Informative

    That's only partially true. While the phones use a standardized USB port for connection, some of them (at least the Verizon RAZR V3C and V3M) will give a message "Unauthorized charger" if you hook up a generic mini USB charger. There may be some kind of handshake required that only the $30 Motorolla chargers are guaranteed to perform. The article summary only mentions standardization of ports. I wonder if software control mechanisms will be eliminated as well...

  11. Re:seconded! by solitas · · Score: 2, Informative

    FWIW:
    according to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB) the spec for ports is 4.35-5.25 VDC @ 500mA max.
    IEEE1394 (Firewire) ports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewire) can supply up to 45 watts @ 30 VDC (1.5A).

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